Masriera is the only Spanish jewelry company whose products are exhibited in museums around the world.
The history of this brand dates back many decades, starting in 1839, when Joseph José Masriera Vidal opened a small jewelry workshop in the jewelry district of Barcelona. Time passes, the workshop gradually expands, production increases, because the sons Francesc and Josep join the business.
By inheritance, the workshop also passes to them, receiving a new impetus in development, starting from the time of their leadership. Both brothers are talented and hardworking. Thanks to these qualities, they excelled in the field of jewelry. Their work was awarded the Gold Medal in 1888 at the International Exhibition in Barcelona.
Masriera Art Nouveau jeweler
But the business gets real fame when it is headed by Luis Masriera (1872 – 1958) – a talented jeweler in the third generation, a jeweler of the Art Nouveau style. He became famous all over the world. Louis pays a lot of attention to the revival and improvement of the almost forgotten technique of painting on enamel. This technical process is a most complex art that requires both special knowledge and high precision, as well as great experience.
Louis had all this and his work was famous for its unique perfection. This technique has become Masrier’s hallmark. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the gold cells into which the enamel is applied are completely hollow (there is no base), so the enamel looks transparent, like stained glass, while it is very durable. This technology began to be called cloisonne enamel, “Barcelona enamel”, – now these are already categories of world significance.
Luis Masriera took part in many exhibitions where his works were very popular. His jewelry is made in the Art Nouveau style – fairies, angels, butterflies, nymphs, sometimes in calm, pastel colors, and sometimes in bright rich colors. His work “Japanese Umbrella” (1920) is known all over the world, now exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona, before that it was exhibited in various museums around the world, many copies were made from it, which were also popular.
Merger
In 1915 – 1917, two large families of Catalan jewelers merged: Masriera (beginning in 1839) and Carreras (beginning in 1766). As a result of the merger, the Masriera i Carreras brand is born. The company is flourishing, its jewelry deserves high marks, praise and recognition in Europe. In 1985 Masrierai Carreras merge with Bagues.
In fact, it was not a merger at all, but a complete sale of the company (including production, workshops, a store and even a house). It happened because the heirs did not continue the work of their fathers, they found themselves in other areas. None of them became a jeweler. But in order to worthily carry a high name, you need a special talent and desire. They were found in the face of Bagues.
Special enamel technique
Brand Bagues-Marsiera today is known far beyond the borders of Spain. The main feature, a distinctive feature of their jewelry – enamel, is produced at the proper level, maintaining the traditions of its predecessors. It is made at a very high temperature (about 800 degrees). As a result, the enamel is of very high quality, it will never crack, darken or change its color. Once upon a time, for the manufacture of enamel, an apprentice pounded powder in a mortar for 3 days, practically turning it into dust. Now this time-consuming process is performed by machines.
Bagues-Marsiera jewelry has received international recognition and a large number of awards. It is prestigious for both state museums and private collections to have jewelry from this company in their arsenal. Now the Masrier Museum is open to the public, which is located in the Bagues Hotel, in the very center of Barcelona (Las Ramblas). The main store is located on Paseo de Gracil (Barcelona).
